Saint Joseph Regional High School (known as SJR, St. Joe's or Joe's) is a private, Roman Catholic, college preparatory school for boys, located on a 33-acre (130,000Â m2) campus in Montvale, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The school operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. St. Joseph Regional High School was founded in 1962 by the Brothers of Saint Francis Xavier. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1968.
As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 513 students and 34.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 15.0:1. In 2014, St. Joseph Regional High School graduated its 7,000 student.
The St. Joseph curriculum includes honors and Advanced Placement courses, and has college credit courses available through Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Academics
Saint Joseph Regional offers courses in English, World/US History, Science, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Theology, and a number of electives, most with accelerated and honor levels. The school offers a number of Advanced Placement and college-level courses. In addition, a Virtual High School program provides an opportunity for qualified students to take courses on-line through an educational consortium endorsed by the United States Department of Education. Students can take classes as diverse as Mandarin Chinese and Marine Biology.
Students who are qualified may apply and be accepted into the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, French Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society.
Among the Class of 2012, more than three quarters received merit-based scholarship offers, among the $15 million in scholarship offers that students in the class received.
Athletics
The Saint Joseph Regional High School Green Knights participate in the United Division of the Big North Conference, a super conference of 40 public and private high schools in Northern New Jersey that operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. The school competed in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference in 2009-10, which was set up to operate on an interim basis while new conferences were established. Until the NJSIAA's 2009 realignment, the school had participated in Division C of the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League, which was made up of high schools located in Bergen County, Essex County and Passaic County, and was separated into three divisions based on NJSIAA size classification.
The Green Knights have achieved league, county and state titles in football, baseball, basketball, wrestling, golf, ice hockey, and winter and spring track and field athletics in the last two decades. The Green Knights' rivals include Bergen Catholic High School, Don Bosco Preparatory High School and Paramus Catholic High School.
- Fall sports
SJR offers three varsity fall sports including football, cross country, and soccer.
Long considered a regional powerhouse, SJR football has grown to become one of the best high school football programs in the country. The football team won the NJSIAA state sectional championships 1987â€"88 (Non-Public North A), 1995-96 (Non-Public Group III), 1997 (Non-Public Group IV), 1999â€"2005, 2008â€"09 and 2011-13 (Non-Public Group III). The SJR varsity football team had a streak of seven Non-Public Group III titles through the 2005 season, a run ended with a close loss to Holy Cross High School in the first round of the 2006 playoffs. The football team has also had its share of national rankings by USA Today, including #8 in 1995, #11 in 1997, #7 in 1999, and #23 in 2004. SJR has also been ranked #1 in the state in 1995, 1997, and 1999. Other teams have been listed in the nation's top 25 rankings during various parts of the year. Through 2010, the Green Knights had won 14 state championships: 1987, 1988, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009. SJR also received The Star-Ledger Trophy in 1995, 1997, and 1999, 2012, and 2013 recognizing the team as the #1 football team in New Jersey. The team had heartbreaking seasons in 2006 and 2007, not making it into the state finals and enduring very disappointing seasons. However, the 2008 team finished with an 11-1 record and won against Immaculata High School 27-6 in the state championship. The 2009 varsity football team defeated Immaculata again in the state championship 14-0. Saint Joe's beat Delbarton School 45-22 in the 2011 Non-Public Group III title game played at Kean University to earn its 15th state championship title. In 2013, the Green Knights defeated Pope John XXIII High School, 62-14 to close out Coach Tony Karcich's career; it was the fifth in sixth seasons for SJR, giving Karcich 17 titles at St. Joseph's. Karcich retired as head football coach after the 2013 season. In 2016, the program won its 18th state title, winning the Non-Public Group III state sectional championship by a score of 26-17 against DePaul Catholic High School in the tournament final.
- Winter sports
SJR offers five varsity winter sports including basketball, bowling, ice hockey, wrestling, and winter track. The SJR basketball team has won a sectional championship, three county championships, most recently in 2005, and five league championships, most recently in 2005, 2007, and in 2009, where they enjoyed recent success with a win over Teaneck High School, 63-50, less than 48 hours after losing to them in the County jamboree finals 55-53, and ended their season with a record of 16-2 in the NNJIL. In 2005, the SJR basketball team were state finalists, but lost to Seton Hall Preparatory School 63-54 in the Non-Public North A state sectional tournament.
SJR Wrestling has been a long dominant force in northern New Jersey and was inducted into the New Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005. The team won the Parochial A North state sectional title in 1986, 1988, 1993, 1997, 1998 and 1999, and the Parochial B North title in 1996. The team won the Parochial A state championship in 1993, 1997 and 1998, and the Parochial B title in 1996.
In 2010, SJR Hockey, who entered the NJTCC Cup as the lowest seed, upset top-seeded Passaic Valley High School and DePaul en route to the championship on February 28. During the Winter of 2011, the Green Knight Hockey team defeated Hackensack in the first round 6-3, and then defeated heavily favored Ramapo High School by a score of 2-1 before losing 2-0 to second-seeded Wayne Valley High School in the finals. In 2012, the Ice Hockey team once again made its way to the championship game with a 15-3-1 record in league play to get them a #2 seed. Eventually, they lost Paramus 7-4. In the winter of 2013, the SJR Ice Hockey team won their fourth league championship appearance in a row. In the 2015 NJSIAA State Playoffs, the #15 seed SJR Ice Hockey team upset #2 seed Don Bosco Prep 5-2, earning a berth in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 1999. Following an exceptional 2016 season, in which the SJR Ice Hockey team defeated state powerhouses such as Seton Hall Prep, Montclair Kimberly Academy, Paramus Catholic and St. John Vianney, the team finished the season ranked #11 in the state of New Jersey.
- Spring sports
SJR offers five varsity spring sports including baseball, golf, lacrosse, tennis, and track and field. SJR baseball has been a very dominant force in New Jersey, winning the NNJIL championship twelve times in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005, the county tournament in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2016 and the state championship in 1992, 1998, and 2004. The 2009 SJR varsity squad won the county tournament by defeating Ramapo High School 10-0. The 2009 squad was also a state finalist after a 7-6 victory over nationally ranked Don Bosco Preparatory High School, but lost to Delbarton School 4-3. Despite the loss, the team was ranked #5 in the state, and #1 in the county. SJR baseball has also had its share of state and national rankings by USA Today, achieving #1 in Northern New Jersey in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2009, #1 in New Jersey in 2005, #10 in the country in 1998, #1 in the east in 1998, #9 in the east in 2004, and is currently ranked #6 in the east in the 2009 season. St. Joe's has had a long-lasting rivalry in baseball with Don Bosco Prep.
Theater program
SJR is noted for its theater program, led by director John Asselta. SJR always presents a musical in the fall/winter, and a drama or comedy in the spring. SJR students also perform in productions put on by Immaculate Heart Academy and Academy of the Holy Angels.
2006
In 2006, SJR presented the world high school premiere of Miss Saigon. It was nominated for multiple awards in the 10th Annual Drama Festival at Fairleigh Dickinson University, as well as the Helen Hayes Theater Awards, and the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards.
Awards won at FDU include:
- Best Supporting Actor in a Musical â€" Dan Kuhn
- Best Supporting Actress in a Musical â€" Eliza Boggia
- Best Ensemble
- Best Overall Musical
Helen Hayes awards include:
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role â€" Katie Feeney
- Best Scenic Effect â€" St. Joe's "The Chopper"
- Best Lobby Display
2007
As of October 15, 2006, SJR presented Urinetown: The Musical. The final cast list reached 106 people, without crew, which made it the largest production in SJR history.
Helen Hayes Theater Awards:
- Overall Production of a Musical
Paper Mill Rising Star Awards:
- Educational Impact Award
2008
In 2008, SJR presented West Side Story. It had an outstanding seven final nominations for the Helen Hayes Theater Awards, and four final nominations for the Paper Mill Rising Star Awards. West Side Story also received the 2008 Showstopper Runner-Up Award for best musical in the country by USA Weekend, making SJR theater not only recognized locally, but nationally as well.
Helen Hayes Theater Awards include:
- Best Actor in a Dramatic Role â€" Ryan Mati
- Best Performance by an Ensemble Group â€" The Jet Boys: Brendan Hall, Michael Peer, Brian Doyle, John-Christopher Record, Taylor Popielarz, Matt DiPietro, Joseph Hall, Steve Simone, and Derek Scheeler.
- Joe Egan â€" Outstanding Achievement in Scenic Design
Paper Mill Rising Star Awards include:
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role â€" Alliy Drago
- Educational Impact Award
2009
The 2009 musical was The Who's Tommy. SJR received seven final nominations from the Metropolitan High School Theater Awards, formerly known as the Helen Hayes Youth Theater Awards, and three final nominations from the Paper Mill Rising Star Awards.
On January 28, 2009, Fox 5 News came to SJR and taped the senior citizens production of SJR's Tommy and aired a special on it on live TV at 7:45Â a.m. on Good Day New York and at 5:00Â p.m. The special included interviews of cast members, and clips of the cast performing on stage.
Metropolitan High School Theater Award (Helen Hayes Youth Theater Awards):
- Outstanding Stage Crew
Paper Mill Rising Star Award:
- Educational Impact Award
2010
In 2010, SJR presented Curtains, which was recognized by the Metropolitan High School Theater Awards as Outstanding Overall Production.
2011
In 2011, the play presented was Les Misérables, which earned a Metropolitan High School Theater Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for Taylor Popielarz.
2012
In 2012, SJR presented Cabaret.
2013
In 2013, SJR presented Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
SJR presented Noises Off as their spring drama, garnering a number of MSU Theatre Night Award nominations, and 2 win.
- Delaney Moro for "Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy"
- Dan Gettler for "Outstanding Performance by Supporting Actor in a Comedy"
2014
In 2014, SJR presented Fiddler on the Roof as their winter musical.
SJR presented Brighton Beach Memoirs as their spring drama, garnering 11 Montclair Theatre Night Award Nominations, including Best Overall Production, and 2 wins.
Montclair State University Theatre Night Award wins:
- "Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy" â€" Victoria Duffy
- "Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actress in a Comedy" â€" Chloe Troast
2015
In 2015, SJR presented Miss Saigon, which earned a Paper Mill Rising Star Award.
Paper Mill Rising Star Awards:
- "Outstanding Actor for a Performance in a Leading Role" â€" Nicholas Berninger
SJR presented You Can't Take It With You as their spring drama.
2016
In 2016, SJR presented Urinetown, and Ordinary People.
2017
In 2017, SJR presented West Side Story, and Rumors
WSJR
St. Joes has a fully fledged functional TV studio, named WSJR, that runs on a closed circuit system on every school day from 8:15am to 8:24am. WSJR generally has students as anchors, and broadcasts school announcements and sport results (school and pro). Frequently, original content produced entirely by students is broadcast. Local high school news is also broadcast, if it concerns SJR students, as well as programming provided by sponsor Channel One News. Only 20 members allowed per year. WSJR currently features two studio grade cameras, one main editing computer, one slideshow/visual effects computer, a professional grade blue screen, and a fully functional video board, as well as a sound board.
Notable alumni
- Steve Beauharnais (born 1990), defensive linebacker for New England Patriots.
- Phillip Chorba (born 1983), actor in Silver Linings Playbook and Concussion.
- Vinny Ciurciu (born 1980), former linebacker for Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- John Flaherty (born 1967), Major League Baseball catcher 1992â€"2005; commentator for YES Network.
- Junior Galette (born 1988), linebacker for Washington Redskins.
- Augie Hoffmann (born 1981), guard for New Orleans Saints. now SJR director of alumni relations and football head coach
- Rob Kaminsky (born 1994), pitcher drafted by St. Louis Cardinals in first round of 2013 MLB Draft, now in Cleveland Indians organization.
- Patrick Kivlehan (born 1989), professional baseball player in the Texas Rangers organization
- Tommy La Stella (born 1989) second baseman for Chicago Cubs
- Mike Massenzio (born 1982), retired mixed martial arts fighter formerly with UFC.
- Devin McCourty (born 1987), safety for New England Patriots.
- Jason McCourty (born 1987), cornerback for Tennessee Titans.
- Dan Oates (born c. 1954), current police chief in Miami Beach, Florida; former police chief of Aurora, Colorado, site of 2012 Aurora shooting in which 12 moviegoers were killed.
- Matt Turner (born 1994), goalkeeper for New England Revolution.
- K'Waun Williams (born 1991), cornerback for Cleveland Browns.
References
External links
- Saint Joseph Regional High School
- SJR Theater Program
- Data for Saint Joseph Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics